Xena 9 years old... Critiques welcome - Page 1

These pictures of Xena were taken this past monday (July 13, 2015)... She is 9 years old...

Critiques are welcome..

beautiful animal. Oh I mean add something about croup or whatever, still end of the day beautiful animal.

Jyl:  she is lovely;  like her overall balance very much.  Looks equal in front and rear angulation which means to me she could probably work all day without tiring;  something I do not see a lot lately.  Course do not go to shows much anymore but; always look for a balanced and versatile dog.  Balance to me  means they can probably do any job and do it well for long periods of time.  Pretty pigment also as a bonus.  Nan

PS:  Nice topline also, don't mind her croup. personally but if you want to pick her apart,maybe something.  Do yo have any puppy pic's of her, was she always this put together or did she go thru some gangly awful growth spurts??  Just curious as when I am picking a GSD puppy out or apart I should say, they do  not seem to grow up like I think they will.  Must be a real knack to it that I cannot always foresee;  sometimes I can but not always whereas my sammies thru the years of having and raising them, learned to predict where and what growth spurts they may have and what outcome that would be when grown...  Just teaching myself what to look for and off course being able to feel their structure as pups.  Helps a lot.  Nan

To me as a untrained eye in confirmation she looks very nice at 9, she seems well muscled in rear legs, her back seems to have a nice flow to it and I love her dark pigment. 

A beautiful, healthy looking female.

I love her, Jyl, she's a lovely female!! I am partial to the darker sables.

Still beautiful, still fit, and still correct, with a far better shoulder than is common in the working lines.  I would need to see her feet, however; if she's got the neat, tight, well-arched paws with strong, dark nails and firm, dark paws affixed to pasterns that are appropriate in length and angle, that completes the package.

If I have to find something wrong her, as in a proper critique, then she's too stretched and topline could be a tad stronger, imo.  She's in good condition. Has she ever been shown in SV conformation? I would guess she'd get a G if not an SG. Overall nicely put together. I would also like to see her feet. 

I like her shoulder and topline. She is very nicely put together, and has a lot of the traits that caused me to pick my current dog (Eska) when I saw her puppy picture posted by Melba. If I were to nitpick, I'd go for a stronger head and jaws. Her upper and lower jaws look a little shallow, and I have heard of working lines breaking jaws and teeth when doing bitework.

Or maybe I'm just too used to seeing those horrible mastiff heads that have become common in the showline dogs...

Not going to 'critique' her, Jyl, as I don't see the point of analyzing a veteran

bitch who isn't a Showdog and on the strength of a photo.  BUT ... she looks

VERY GOOD for a 9-yr old !   Pretty girl, lovely head.